Looking to consolidate his reputation as “the best Apple analyst on the planet”, KGI Securities’ Ming-Chi Kuo is at it again. In a research note obtained by MacRumors Kuo has reaffirmed that Apple will indeed release three models of the iPhone 7 this year in addition to the imminent 4-inch ‘iPhone SE’.

Consequently the three iPhone 7 models will be the 4.7-inch iPhone 7, 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus and a new and even more premium model based around (already huge) Plus which some are dubbing the ‘iPhone 7 Pro’. What’s the difference between the Pro (I’ll go with the name for now) and the Plus? A groundbreaking camera.

In fact, I should say groundbreaking ‘cameras’ because Kuo says the iPhone 7 Pro will use a dual-lens camera system created by LinX, an imaging specialist Apple purchased in 2015.

My fellow Forbes’ contributor Paul Monckton has already broken down LinX technology in detail, but the short version is it promises huge steps forward in speed and low light shots as well as the ability to incorporate a 2-3x optical zoom. The latter is potentially a major differentiator for Apple given the opportunity to build on the success of its ‘Shot on iPhone’ marketing campaign.

Kuo says LinX dual-lens technology also allows the camera module to be very thin so the iPhone 7 Pro may eliminate the range’s infamous camera bulge.

But why would Apple consider fragmenting its iPhone range just to put a better camera into a third iPhone 7 model? Why not equip all iPhone 7 models with the technology or, if it must be split, offer it in the Plus and not the standard iPhone 7? After all there’s a precedent there. The iPhone 6 and 6S already lag behind the iPhone 6/6S Plus cameras due to their lack of optical image stabilisation (OIS).

Kuo states the reason for making the third model simply comes down to supply constraints. Apple can’t produce the LinX camera modules in enough quantity so it will create a third smartphone just to get the technology to the market in more limited quantities.

And it is this last detail which,  raises questions.

Source: N